NHPS Reverses Course, Won’t Reinstate Arrested Teacher

By Maya McFadden, New Haven Independent

NEW HAVEN, CT — A Benjamin Jepson School math teacher who was put on leave and later arrested for allegedly sending inappropriate text messages to a 13-year-old former student of his was set to return to the classroom this week — until families and students spoke out, and the district reversed its decision.

Such is the latest with Thomas Fargeorge, a 42-year-old New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) teacher and Cheshire resident who was arrested on Jan. 10 on one misdemeanor count of harmful communication with a minor. Click here to read more about those inappropriate, if not necessarily sexual, text messages, as well as about Fargeorge’s arrest.

State court records show that Fargeorge has not yet entered a plea to his one misdemeanor charge, and that he was released on a $25,000 bond. His next court hearing is scheduled to take place on Thursday.

On April 10, Jepson School Principal Lesley Stancarone and NHPS Asst. Supt. Alyshia Perrin sent a letter to Jepson’s school community informing them that Fargeorge would be retuning to his teaching duties effective April 20.

The letter notes that Fargeorge had been out on administrative leave. “During this time, the matter that prompted his leave was formally reviewed through our established New Haven BOE Human Resources and legal processes,” the letter states. “That review has now concluded.

“Based on the findings and determinations of this process, Mr. Thomas has been cleared to return to the classroom and to resume his professional responsibilities. This decision was made in accordance with district policy, applicable law, and our commitment to due process.”

The letter states that the safety and wellbeing of students remain the school’s and the district’s “highest priority.”

The letter concludes by encouraging community members to reach out to the administration directly with any questions related to policies or student-safety protocols.

Perrin later reached out to the school community again three days later, on April 13, to state that the district has reversed its decision and won’t be bringing Fargeorge back to Jepson at this time, after all.

“After continued reflection, careful consideration of community feedback, and ongoing monitoring of student experiences, the district has determined that the staff member will not return to Benjamin Jepson Magnet School,” Perrin wrote in an email with the subject line, “Substitute Teacher to Continue.”

She explained that the substitute teacher that has been covering Fargeorge’s class “will remain in place for the remainder of the school year to ensure stability, continuity, and a continued focus on teaching and learning.”

Perrin concluded with another reminder that student safety is the district’s top priority and thanked community members for reaching out. “We are grateful to the families and stakeholders who have reached out through phone calls and emails to share their perspectives and concerns, particularly regarding the emotional well‑being of our students,” she said. “Ongoing engagement from our school community is an important part of how we assess school climate and respond to student needs. Student safety—both physical and emotional—has guided every step of our decision‑making throughout this process.”

Fargeorge and his attorney did not respond to a request for comment by the publication time of this article.

One of the Jepson community members who reached out to the district to express her concerns with Fargeorge’s potential reinstatement was Anika Russell, the parent of two Jepson students. In a letter and email, Russell told Perrin all of the Board of Education’s members that her children were uncomfortable with the idea that Fargeorge would return to the classroom.

“Many children, including my own two, have voiced negative feelings about this decision. As a result, I am deeply concerned that this teacher’s presence will create a significant distraction and hinder their ability to learn,” Russell wrote. “More importantly, both of my children feel extremely uncomfortable, which raises serious concerns about their emotional safety and overall well-being.”

The Independent spoke with another parent, whose student is a sixth-grader in Fargeorge’s class and who asked to remain anonymous for this story. They said his child was the one that broke the news to the family about Fargeorge’s potential return. The child told their parents about being disturbed, “creeped out,” and deeply saddened that an adult they looked up had been texting a student.

The parent said that students were able to gain access to the text messages through reporting on Fargeorge’s arrest, which made the matter “rougher for parents to navigate.”

They added that the district’s decision to allow Fargeorge to return before the criminal case had run its course was concerning. “They made a real-life decision that could be very controversial for the parents without consulting them,” they said.

The parent said they have since taught his child more about “what’s ok and what’s not ok.” They also called for clearer NHPS policies around what happens to a teacher and school staffer when an internal review is complete but a criminal case is ongoing.

“While personnel decisions involve multiple layers of review and are governed by state and federal employment laws, the district continuously assesses school conditions and student experiences,” Harmon wrote. “Following further reflection, ongoing monitoring, and additional feedback from the school community, the district determined that it was in the best interest of students and the school climate for the staff member not to return to Benjamin Jepson Magnet School. Student wellbeing, both physical and emotional, was central to this determination.”

When asked about any conditions that the district planned to impose upon Fargeorge as part of his initially planned return to Jepson School, if here were returned to Jepson School, Harmon declined to comment. “In general, however, student supervision protocols are routinely reviewed and adjusted to meet student needs and ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, consistent with district policy and applicable law,” he said.

Harmon noted the district requires its staff to engage in regular professional development on professional conduct, boundaries with students, mandated reporting, and ethical responsibilities. Trainings occur at onboarding and then are reinforced through ongoing professional learning, annual acknowledgements, and additional training as required by role, district priorities, or state guidance.

“We recognize the intensity of concern surrounding this situation and the importance of transparency where possible,” Harmon concluded. “At the same time, we must balance public communication with legal requirements designed to protect employee confidentiality. What we can state clearly is that NHPS remains focused on maintaining safe learning environments and responding thoughtfully to student and family concerns.”

Fargeorge and his attorney representing him from BBB Attorney LLC did not respond to request for comments before the publication of this article.

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